Changes to the apples and pears levy and charge rates – Effective from 1 October 2017

Page Content

From 1 October 2017, the Emergency Plant Pest Response (EPPR) component of the apples and pears levy and charge, currently set at nil, will increase to 0.05 of a cent per kilogram for all domestic and export apples and pears.

The funds raised through the EPPR levy will be used to repay the apple and pear industry's share of costs to respond to an outbreak of varroa mite in Queensland and exotic fruit fly in Torres Strait.

Changes to the apples(excluding juicing and processing apples)levy and charge rates are shown in the table below:

Apples

Levy/charge component

Levy/charge rate to 30 September 2017

Levy/charge rate commencing 1 October 2017

Domestic and export

R&D

0.72 of a cent per kilogram

0.72 of a cent per kilogram

Marketing

1.03 cents per kilogram

1.03 cents per kilogram

PHA

0.02 of a cent per kilogram

0.02 of a cent per kilogram

EPPR

$0.00

0.05 of a cent per kilogram

NRS

0.075 of a cent per kilogram

0.075 of a cent per kilogram

TOTAL

1.845 cents per kilogram

1.895 cents per kilogram

Changes to the pears (excluding juicing and processing pears) levy and charge rates are shown in the table below:

Pears

Levy/charge component

Levy/charge rate to 30 September 2017

Levy/charge rate commencing 1 October 2017

Domestic and export

R&D

0.775 of a cent per kilogram

0.775 of a cent per kilogram

Marketing

1.249 cents per kilogram

1.249 cents per kilogram

EPPR

$0.00

0.05 of a cent per kilogram

NRS

0.075 of a cent per kilogram

0.075 of a cent per kilogram

TOTAL

2.099 cents per kilogram

2.149 cents per kilogram

GST does not apply to Australian Government levies and charges.

Note: the new apples and pears levy and charge rates will need to be used when calculating your December 2017 quarterly return, due on or before 28 January 2018.

Who is affected by the change to the apples and pears levy and charge rate?

If you produce apples or pears and sell them by retail sale, you must lodge a return and make a payment to the department.
If you are an intermediary, including a first purchaser, buying agent, selling agents or exporting agents, you must lodge a return and make a payment to the department.

If you export apples or pears - that is, you are the person who owns the apples or pears at the time of export, you must lodge a return and make a payment to the department.